Another Turkish soldier killed in Syria

The Turkish Armed Forces lost a soldier on Thursday in the course of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin, bringing the total number of killed troops to 45, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement.

"On March 15, during Operation Olive Branch we have lost one of our comrades-in-arms as a result of an improvised explosive device being set off," the statement said.

Turkish army officially declared on January 20 the launch of an offensive targeting the positions of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin region in northwest Syria. The Turkish AKP government's excuse was the threat against national interests and border security.

The operation has been conducted jointly with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) terrorist group.